Youth National Team Update: April 26-May 3

NewsMay 3, 2004

KRIKORIAN SELECTS 18 FOR CONCACAF U-19 WOMEN’S QUALIFYING TOURNAMENT: U.S. Under-19 Women’s National Team head coach Mark Krikorian has named the 18-player roster that will compete for a berth in the 2004 FIFA Under-19 Women’s World Championship at the CONCACAF U-19 Women’s Qualifying Tournament that will be held in Ottawa and Montreal, Canada, from May 28-June 6, 2004. The second FIFA U-19 Women’s World Championship will be held in Thailand from November 10-27, 2004. The U.S. team is led by four members of the 2002 team that won the FIFA U-19 World Championship in goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris, defender Rachel Buehler, midfielder Angie Woznuk and forward Kerri Hanks, all born after the cutoff for the 2004 World Championship, which is Jan. 1, 1985. For the CONCACAF Qualifying Tournament, the United States was drawn into Group B in the eight-team, two-group tournament and will take on the Dominican Republic, Trinidad & Tobago and Costa Rica in first round play. The host Canadians were placed at the top of Group A, along with Mexico, Jamaica and Panama. The top-two finishers in each group will "cross-over" in the semifinals with the winners of those games earning berths to Thailand. U.S. U-19 WNT Qualifying RosterGOALKEEPERS (2): Kelsey Davis (SoCal United), Ashlyn Harris (Satellite HS); DEFENDERS (6): Rachel Buehler (Stanford), Nikki Krzysik (World Class), Stephanie Logterman (Warriors Black), Stephanie Lopez (Portland), Kia McNeill (Yankee United Pride), Becky Sauerbrunn (Virginia); MIDFIELDERS (5): Yael Averbuch (World Class), Stephanie Kron (UCLA), Stacy Lindstrom (UCLA), Alexa Orand (Slammers), Jennifer Redmond (PDA Galaxy); FORWARDS (5): Bristyn Davis (UCLA), Sheree Gray (World Class), Kerri Hanks (Dallas Texans), Megan Rapinoe (Elk Grove United), Angie Woznuk (Portland)

U.S. UNDER-17 '88 MNT TAKES SECOND AT BALLYMENA INTERNATIONAL TOURNAMENT: The U.S. Under-17 ’88 Men’s National Team got their third shutout in four matches, but ended up falling to Switzerland 4-3 in penalty kicks Monday (May 3) afternoon in the championship match of the fifth Ballymena International Tournament in Northern Ireland. The Under-17s second-place finish ties their best showing at the tournament in three attempts, as they also took home the second place trophy in 2002. In the final, the U.S. dominated the taller and more physical Swiss, but couldn’t find the back of the net despite a 12-5 shot advantage. It was the first time in the history of the Ballymena International Tournament that penalties decided the championship match. The U.S. advanced to the final after going undefeated in their first three matches to finish atop Group B. The U.S. opened the tournament with a 1-0 victory over Belgium, as midfielder Ryan Soroka scored the lone goal of the match in the 50th minute after receiving a pass from Preston Zimmerman to give the U.S. their first international victory since the team first began training together in U.S. Soccer's Residency Program in Bradenton, Fla., last fall. Preston Zimmerman led the way in the USA's next match against Scotland, scoring both goals in a 2-0 victory. In their final group match, the U.S. secured their advancement to the championship match with a 1-1 draw with Austria behind Ofori Sarkodie's first international goal of his career as the defender headed home a Soroka cross.U-17 ’88 MNT ResultsDate Opponent Result U.S. Goal ScorersApril 29 Belgium 1-0 W SorokaApril 30 Scotland 2-0 W Zimmerman (2)May 1 Austria 1-1 T SarkodieMay 3 Switzerland 0-0 T (3-4 PKs)